Garmin’s Fenix line can best be described as the beefier and more robust alternative to their triathlete-favorite Forerunner 9xx series. Packed full of extra tools geared toward athletes such as Run Race Pace Guidance/Prediction and strength training workouts as well as offline mapping capabilities and music storage, these devices offer everything an athlete would ever need in a watch.
Due to all their extra features, watches with such timepieces can be more costly. Before investing, be sure to evaluate if you will actually use all these tools before committing.
Activity Tracking
Fenix Series watches have always been designed with serious athletes in mind, and the Fenix 7 is no different. Capable of tracking running, cycling and swimming (with an optional swim strap from Garmin) to a depth of 100m with optional swim strap, plus daily steps taken and floors climbed stats as well as weekly intensity minutes goal (if enabled).
Add some personality and fun to your watchface by customizing it with the free Garmin Face It app. Select a scenic photo, adjust its time-of-day adjustment settings and set your new watchface!
The Fenix has advanced training tools like endurance score, hill score and VO2 max to help push your limits. Get an estimate of your fitness level every morning using PacePro(tm), while ClimbPro provides real-time information on current and upcoming climbs – plus tracks key biomechanical data like cadence,
Sleep Tracking
Fenix models that feature sleep tracking include the Pulse Ox5 sensor that analyses your blood oxygen levels to detect abnormal heart rhythms such as atrial fibrillation (AFib). When your heart rate dips during sleep, this sensor alerts your watch that it’s time for you to wake up.
As soon as you wake, your watch will provide you with a detailed morning report summing up last night’s rest, including sleep stages and duration. Furthermore, it offers suggestions to improve your rest by picking up patterns that it recognizes; additionally, training recovery tips may also be included in its recommendations.
Some trackers also incorporate data from other sensors, including ambient light or temperature readings and body movement to help you pinpoint factors affecting your rest. They may even record if you’re getting enough exercise – an essential ingredient to ensuring you enjoy optimal restful slumber.
Heart Rate Monitoring
All fenix watches offer 24/7 health and fitness monitoring capabilities, such as wrist-based Heart Rate (HR), Body Battery energy tracking, jet lag advisory services, sleep tracking capabilities and more. When awakened from restful slumber, the watch will provide a customized report detailing last night’s rest along with training insights and an individual sleep score for you to consider.
Fenix models also feature GPS navigation features that make it easy to track, share, and navigate routes, making these watches ideal for thru-hikers and ultra-endurance runners alike. Furthermore, these watches allow users to save points-of-interest (POIs) that can later be used offline map navigation.
The Fenix series includes special feature sets designed to assist with swimming training, skiing and golfing. They can track distance, stroke count and pace while showing front, back and middle green locations from a course downloaded through Garmin Connect. In addition, these watches provide real-time stamina information which makes it easy to assess how much fuel remains in the tank.
Connected Features
Garmin Fenix series multisport GPS watches represent the pinnacle of Garmin multisport GPS watch technology, designed specifically to meet the needs of outdoor enthusiasts, hikers and athletes seeking additional performance metrics.
All Fenix models feature advanced GPS with both GLONASS satellite reception for increased accuracy and confidence in any situation. Their rugged designs include sapphire-covered screens for superior protection against drops from height, as well as waterproof rating up to 100 meters for prolonged outdoor adventure.
Many features are available to enhance your experience, including Face It app which allows you to personalize your watch with photos from your phone. Furthermore, compatible smartphones can connect their watch directly with Garmin Connect so activity data can be uploaded automatically and shared.
Upgraded training tools like real-time stamina can help you gain more insight into your fitness level, making it easier to balance workouts with rest. Other 24/7 health monitoring features such as wrist-based Pulse Ox5, Body Battery energy monitoring, jet lag advisor and advanced sleep monitoring with nap detection can be found within this series of wearable devices. Furthermore, the ECG app6 from this series allows users to record and monitor heart rhythm on-the-go.
Battery Life
Garmin has significantly extended the battery life of their Fenix series watches compared to prior models, yet even when using just wrist-based heart rate and smartphone notifications to manage battery use, your watch will still drain its charge over time. Furthermore, the backlight can also be an energy drain; to maximize battery usage make sure to set its brightness low or disable it completely for best results.
All Fenix models feature GPS capability with built-in ABC (altimeter, barometer and compass) sensors to enhance outdoor activities like hiking or backpacking. Depending on the size of your watch, up to one week’s use could pass without charging; certain Fenix models even utilize solar or GPS “ring” technology for additional battery optimization.
The Fenix is an invaluable asset to anyone interested in fitness or outdoor activity who wants to keep track of their progress, or training aid those taking on new challenges. It boasts several features to help track current fitness level, set a goal and train to achieve it; additionally both models boast multiple global navigation satellite system (GNSS) capabilities which increase accuracy while permitting longer tracking capabilities.
